Job Description

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government.

Position Summary:

The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is seeking a Program Manager to lead our Venture Acceleration program. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and help Rice entrepreneurs bring their cutting-edge ideas to market. In this role, you will be responsible for identifying promising people, research, and companies from across the Rice University ecosystem, and building the immersive, experiential programs to catalyze their next great startup. You will work closely with student startup founders to help them accelerate their growth, secure funding, and achieve their goals while acting as connective tissue to the broader Texas and US startup ecosystems.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is someone who has been a founder or an operator in an early-stage start-up, especially if pursued while a student, and is interested in the worlds of entrepreneurship, deep tech, and venture capital. The ideal candidate is a proactive, service-oriented communicator who enjoys collaborating with others to iteratively refine products to perfection.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person on campus Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm. This is a two-year term-limited position with a possibility of an extension.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor's degree
Four or more (4+) years of entrepreneurship, program management and/or start-up experience
Ability to develop complex and/or multiple program partnerships and funding sources
Excellent organizational and time management skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferences:

Five or more (5+) years of entrepreneurship, program management experience
Experience with startups and startup accelerator programs

Essential Functions:

Leads the development and implementation of major program(s)
Collaborates with faculty and / or staff leadership to design programs and establish long range strategic and operational plans
Identifies promising research and technology from across the Rice University ecosystem
Oversees the operations, administration and evaluation of programs
Develops and implements strategies related to outreach, events, communications, development, partnerships and fundraising / funding